Factors Influencing and Predicting the Likelihood of Seeking Mental Health Help

Collegiate athletes experience mental health concerns at similar rates to non-athlete
students, however, the student-athlete population underutilizes professional mental health help
with only 10% of those in need seeking services. Criticisms of the extant research on studentathlete
mental health help-seeking include studies that lack theoretical guidance, and
convenience samples who are not experiencing a mental health issue. The aim of this study was
to conduct a theoretically driven investigation assessing factors of help-seeking associated with
the Health Belief Model and Reasoned Action Approach while sampling student-athletes who
identified as currently experiencing a personal or emotional health concern. More specifically,
the purpose of this study was to investigate which factors of help-seeking behavior predict the
likelihood that a student-athlete will seek professional help, and to identify the differences in
help-seeking factors between student-athletes with a lower likelihood of seeking help compared
to those with a higher likelihood of seeking help. Participants were 269 NCAA student-athletes
who completed an online survey assessing factors related to their help-seeking behavior. A
multiple liner regression reveled that perceived benefits, perceived susceptibility, and perceived
attitudes factors were significant predictors of the likelihood that a student-athlete would seek
treatment. Results from a one-way MANOVA showed significant differences between the lower
likelihood and the higher likelihood of seeking help group on the perceived seriousness,
perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, instrumental barriers, stigma-related barriers, and
the perceived attitudes factors. Additional information gathered in this study suggests the most
frequently reported factors which prevented student-athletes from seeking help include a belief
the issues they are experiencing is not that serious, or a desire to seek help from a source other
than a mental health professional. Findings from this study have implications for athletic
departments, campus counseling centers, and future interventions designed to enhance mental
health help-seeking.